Minister sees the fruit of 21st Century Schools investment

Education Minister, Huw Lewis has been visiting the sites of two new schools that are benefitting from over £23m of Welsh Government investment.

The Minister visited Neath Port Talbot’s Ysgol Newydd Bae Baglan – a brand new school that is being jointly funded by £20m from  the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Programme and £20m from Neath Port Talbot Council.

The new school will be an all-through facility that will deliver 21st century primary and secondary education to 1500 local pupils, aged between 3 and 16. It will replace four existing local schools.

The £40m investment is the biggest single investment in school infrastructure in Neath Port Talbot’s history, and the Minister joined local politicians for a topping out ceremony to celebrate the school’s ongoing construction.

On the same day the Minister also visited the new Gowerton Primary ahead of its opening in January next year.

The primary school is benefitting from £3.4m from the Welsh Government and £3.4m from Swansea Council and will unite pupils on one site for the first time in the school’s history.

The new school will provide a modern, 21st century learning environment that is aimed at boosting pupil’s educational attainment for years to come.

Speaking about his visits, the Education Minister said:

“I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Gowerton’s fabulous new Primary school ahead of its opening next month, and seeing the excellent facilities that will benefit local pupils for years to come.

“It was also a pleasure to attend the topping out ceremony for Ysgol Newydd Bae Baglan which, when open next academic year, will provide high quality education facilities for 1500 primary and secondary pupils in Neath Port Talbot.

“I want pupils  across Wales to  have the opportunity to learn in modern and inspiring school settings which is why we are investing £1.4 billion through our 21st Century Schools  and Education Programme to rebuild and refurbish over 150 schools and colleges in Wales.

“It is a huge investment, particularly at such financially challenging times, but I am committed to providing Welsh learners with the best possible educational opportunities.”